Ticket collector



ly 6, 1966 F. N. S TEPHENS Em 3,26 ,100

TICKET COLLECTOR Filed Nov. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 F- INVENTORS 4 -5 E FREDERICK MS'TEDHENS J'O SEPH 1?. M BR/DE ATTOE N EYS July 26, 1966 STEPHENS ET AL 3,263,100

TICKET COLLECTOR Filed Nov. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 56 O O O INVENTORS O P F'EEDEEICKMSTEPHENS lawg flaw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,263,100 TICKET COLLECTOR Frederick N. Stephens and Joseph R. McBride, Leawood, Kans., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Stephens, Industries, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Nov. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 238,963 8 Claims. (Cl. 307-416) Our invention relates to a ticket collector and more particularly to an improved device for ensuring the collection of inventory control tickets which device is simple in construction, certain in operation, reliable and inexpensive.

In the modern methods of inventory control employed in department stores, separable or detachable tickets are applied to the articles being sold. When an article of merchandise is sold the ticket is removed and collected to permit the merchandise control or accounting department of the store accurately to gauge their inventory. It will readily be apparent that the system is only as good as is the collection of the tickets.

The most logical place for the collection of inventory control tickets is at the cashiers station at which payment [for the article is made. -It has been suggested in the prior art that means be provided for ensuring that the cashier collects the ticket as she rings up the sale. One means which has been proposed is a mechanism which disables the cash register from being operated until a ticket is accepted by the mechanism. The specific arrangements of the prior art embody a number of disadvantages.

One device of the prior art requires the use of perforated tickets, the perforations of which must be sensed in order that the sale be rung up. Another device of the prior art requires that the ticket be inserted in a slide and that the slide be manually operated before the register can be operated. It will readily be apparent that both these devices of the prior art are relatively cumbersome to operate and are readily subject to derangement. That is, tickets must be inserted in the mechanism with a relatively high degree of care and the tickets themselves must be in good condition or the device may not operate to accomplish its intended purpose or it may jam.

These devices of the prior art for ensuring the collection of the inventory control tickets employ circuit control devices which are directly connected into the cash register circuit so as to form an integral part thereof. Consequently if for any reason the mechanism becomes inoperative the entire register is disabled. No sales can properly be run-g up on the register until the ticket-taking mechanism is repaired.

A further disadvantage of the ticket-taking mechanisms of the prior art is that they are relatively complicated and consequently expensive. Thus they are economically impractical tor a modern store in which a large number ort cash register stations are required to accommodate the customers in the many departments.

We have invented an improved device for collecting inventory control tickets and the like. Our device is such that it may be connected to a cash register as an adjunct thereto or may readily be bypassed to permit the register to be operated without the device. =Our ticket collector is relatively simple in its construction and is certain in its operation. The register control elements of our device do not form a permanent and integral part of the register power circuit. Our ticket collector is reliable in operation. It is inexpensive.

One object of our invention is to provide an improved device for ensuring that inventory control tickets are collected as sales are registered.

Another object of our invention is to provide a ticket collector which is simple in construction.

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Yet another object of our invention is to provide a ticket collector which is reliable and certain in operation.

A further object of our invention is to provide a ticket collector which is inexpensive.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a ticket collector, the control circuits of which do not form an integral and permanent part of a cash register power circuit.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a ticket collector for use with a cash register which will not render the register inoperative when the collector breaks down.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of a ticket collector for use with a cash register in which a ticket inserted into the collector momentarily actuates a switch to condition the register for operation. In response to operation of the register the conditioning circuit is reset and the power circuit is maintained until the register operat1on is complete. The power plug of the register may be plugged into our device so as to be supplied with power through the control circuit or alternatively it may be plugged into a circuit which by-passes our control circuit.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of our ticket collector illustrating its relationship to the cash register with which it is used.

, FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of our ticket collector.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of our ticket collector taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of our ticket collector.

- FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit of our ticket collector in use in connection with a cash register.

Referring now to the drawings, our tag control device, indicated generally by the reference character 10, is adapted to be used with a cash register, indicated generally by the reference character 12, of any suitable electrical type known to the art. The register 12 has an electrical motor, to be described hereinafter, which is adapted to be energized from a suitable source of energy to which the register is connected by a plug 16. In response to the operation of a key 14 the motor is energized to cause the register drawer 18 to open. Since the registers of this type are known in the art, the register 12 will not be described in detail. If desired the device 10 may be detachably secured to the register as by magnets or the like.

Plug 16 is adapted to be inserted into a receptacle 20' of our device 10 to connect the register to the control circuit, to be described hereinafter, of our device. If for any reason our device is or becomes inoperative, plug 16 can be inserted into an alternate receptacle 22 to by-pass the control circuit in a manner which will be described. Our device 10 has a plug 24 for connecting the device to a suitable source of electrical energy.

Our tag control device includes a generally rectangular collector cannister or box 26 over which we set a cover plate 28, the periphery of which carries flanges 30- which fit over the edge of the cannister 26. We provide the plate 28 with an opening 32 surrounded by a guide 34 through which tags or tickets deposited in the device 10 can pass down into the cannister 26.

A cover housing indicated generally by the reference character 36 is secured to the cover plate 28 by any suitable means such as by screws 38 passing through the cover plate and into bosses 40 within the housing 36. An opening 42 formed in the top of the housing 36 receives a ticket-slot-forming member 44 providing a slot 46 through which tickets can be inserted into the housing 36. It will be seen that we so shape the member 44 as to facilitate the entry of tickets into the slot 46.

Respective bosses 48 and 50 formed on the underside of the housing 36 are provided with slots 52 and 54 which receive a shaft 56. Screws 58 and 60 secure shaft retainers 62 and 64 to the bosses 48 and 50 to hold the shaft 56 in the slots.

We braze or otherwise secure a flap 66 to the shaft 56 for movement therewith. We form the flap 66 with a switch-actuating arm 68 which extends generally at right angles to the flap 66. A switch 70 carried by a support 72 formed on the underside of housing 36 has a spring arm 74 which is normally in engagement with the arm 68 to urge the flap 66 to a position in the path of a ticket being inserted into the housing 36 through the slot 46. Arm 74 also engages the switch-actuating element 76. Screws or the like 78 secure a relay-mounting bracket 80 which attaches two relays 82 to the underside of the housin 36.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, we insert the plug 24 of our device in a receptacle 84 connected to a suitable source 86 of voltage. In this manner we supply electrical energy across a pair of conductors 88 and 90. We insert the plug 16 of the cash register 12 into the receptacle of the device 10. The receptacle 22 which by-passes the control circuit of our device is connected directly across the plug 24.

We connect switch 70, normally closed relay contacts CR2-2 and the relay winding CR1 in series between the conductors 88 and 90. CR1 when energized is adapted to close normally open relay contacts CR1-1 and normally open contacts CR12 which latter contacts are connected in series with a control relay winding CR2 between conductor 88 and one terminal of the receptacle 20. CR2 when energized is adapted to open relay contacts CR2-2 and close normally open relay contacts CR2-1 connected across the switch CR1-2.

The cash register motor, indicated generally by reference character 91, having a field winding 92 and an armature 94 is connected in series with a switch 96 across the plug 16. Switch 96 is closed in response to the operation of key 14 and is held closed for the cash register cycle by means responsive to motor 91 as indicated schematically by the broken line 98.

The relay CR2 must provide suflicient delay to permlt the follow-through mechanism 98 of the cash register motor 91 to become operative before CR2-2 opens. The cash register with which our ticket collector is used employs a motor requiring an A.C. input and is provided with means (not shown) for limiting the current drawn by the register motor. Theoretically an AC. relay CR2 could be employed in our control circuit. We have discovered that as a practical matter an AC. relay will not provide the required delay at the low current level permitted by the cash register. To obviate this problem we energize a D.C. relay winding CR2 from the AC. source through a full wave rectifier indicated generally by the reference character 102. This D.C. relay winding provides the required delay at low. current levels. It will thus be seen that we energize a D.C. relay from an A.C. source to control the action in an AC. circuit.

If our ticket collector for any reason breaks down, the power plug of the cash register can be removed from the receptacle 20 and inserted in the receptacle 22 so as to by-pass the control circuit. It is, of course, still desirable to collect the merchandise tickets. For this reason we provide the top of the housing 36 with an opening 100 through which tickets can be inserted into the collector without actuating flap 66.

In operation of our ticket collector, when the customer approaches the cashiers counter with an article of merchandise the cashier removes the merchandise ticket. She then inserts it through the slot 46 so as to pivot flap 66 and shaft 56 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3. When this occurs arm 68 acts against spring arm 74 to move this arm to the right as viewed in FIGURE 3 or downwardly as viewed in FIGURE 2. The spring arm 74 in the course of its movement actuates member 76 momentarily to close switch 70.

As can be seen by reference to FIGURE 5 when switch 70 closes, it energizes relay Winding CR1 through the switch 70 and through normally closed contacts CR22. CR1 then closes its own holding circuit through contacts CR1-1 and CR22 and closes the contacts CR1-2. The cash register circuit is now conditioned to be operated. As she rings up the sale the cashier actuates button 14 to close switch 96 which remains closed for one cycle of operation of the register. Closing of switch 96 completes the circuit of the register motor 91 to open the register drawer 18 to permit the cashier to accept money, make change as required and record the sale. As soon as the register circuit is complete, winding CR2 is energized. Energization of this winding causes contacts CR22 to interrupt the holding circuit of CR1 effectively to reset the ticket collector circuit. De-energization of CR1 permits contacts CR1-2 to open. However, energization of CR2 closes contacts CR2-1 to maintain the motor circuit until its cycle is complete. When the motor cycle is complete, switch 96 opens and the entire mechanism is reset.

If for any reason our ticket collector becomes inoperative the cashier can remove the plug 16 from the receptacle 20 and insert it in receptacle 22 to by-pass the control elements of the circuit. When this is done the cash register can be operated and tickets can be inserted through the opening into the collector.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a device for ensuring that inventory control tickets are collected as sales are registered. Our ticket collector is simple in its construction and certain in operation. Our collector is inexpensive to construct. None of the control elements of our ticket collector are made as integral, permanent parts of the control circuit of the register with which it is used. We provide means for by-passing the collector control circuit so as not to render the register inoperative in the event of a failure of the collector.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. Ticket collecting apparatus adapted to connect an output circuit including a normally open manually operable switch to a source of energy including in combination a member adapted to be actuated by a ticket, means responsive to the actuation of said member for connecting said source to said output circuit and means responsive to closing of said manually operable switch in said output circuit for disabling said connecting means.

2. Ticket collecting apparatus adapted to connect an output circuit to a source of energy including in combination a receiver provided with means through which tickets can be passed, first means adapted to be actuated to connect said source to said output circuit, means re sponsive to the passage of a ticket for actuating said first connecting means, second means adapted to be actuated to connect said source to said output circuit and means responsive to current flow in said output circuit for disabling said first connecting means and for actuating said second connecting means.

3. Ticket collecting apparatus adapted to connect an.

output circuit to a source of energy including in combination a ticket actuatable member, an output circuit current flow through said output circuit in response to operation of said manually operable means fordisabling said first connecting means and for operating saidsecond connecting means and means responsive to the movement of said motor to interrupt said output circuit to deactivate said current responsive means.

4. Ticket collecting apparatus adapted to connect an output circuit to a source of energy including in combination a receiver \provided with means through which tickets can be passed into the receiver, a source of energy, a first relay winding having a first normally open switch and a second normally open switch associated therewith, a second relay winding, means connecting said first switch and said second relay winding to said output circuit, means responsive to the passage of a ticket into said receiver for energizing said first relay winding from said source and means connecting said second normally open switch in a holding circuit for said first relay winding.

5. Ticket collecting apparatus adapted to connect an output circuit to a source of energy including in combination a receiver provided with means through which tickets can be passed into the receiver, a first relay wind-- ing having a first normally open switch and a second normally open switch associated therewith, a second relay winding having a third normally closed switch associated therewith, means connecting said second relay winding and said first switch to said output circuit, means responsive to the passage of a ticket into said receiver for energizing said first relay winding from said source through said third normally closed switch and means connecting said second normally open switch and said third normally closed switch in a holding circuit for said first relay winding.

6. Ticket collecting apparatus adapted to connect an output circuit to a source of energy including in combination a receiver provided with means through which tickets can be passed into the receiver, a first relay winding having a first normally open switch and a second normally open switch associated therewith, a second relay winding having a third normally closed switch and a fourth normally open. switch associated therewith, means connecting said second relay Winding and said first normally open switch to said output circuit, means responsive to the passage of a ticket into said receiver for energizing said first relay winding from said source through said third normally closed switch, means connecting said third normally closed switch and said second normally open switch in a holding circuit for said first relay winding and means connecting said'fourth switch across said first normally open switch.

7. Ticket collecting apparatus adapted to connect an output circuit to a source of energy including in combination a receiver provided with means through which tickets can be passed, a flap, means mounting said flap on said receiver for movement from a first position in the path of a ticket being passed to the receiver to a second position,a switch, means responsive tomovement of said flap to said second position in response to actuation by a ticket for operating said switch and means responsive to operation of said switch for connecting said output circuit to said source.

8. Ticket collecting apparatus adapted to connect an output circuit to a source of alternating current including in combination a receiver provided with means through which tickets can be passed into the receiver, a first. relay winding having a first normally open switch and a second open switch associated therewith, a second direct current relay winding having a third normally closed switch and a fourth normally open switch associated therewith, means comprising a full wave rectifier for connecting. said second relay winding and said first normally open switch to said output circuit, means responsive to the passage of a ticket into the receiver for energizing said first relay winding from said source to said normally closed switch, means connecting said third normally closed switch and said second normally open switch in a holding circuit for said first relay winding and means connecting said fourth switch across said first normally open switch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,763,817 9/1956 Blair 317-155.5 2,908,848 10/1959 Hull 31714l 3,047,218 7/1962 Perry et a]. 235--l1 ORIS L. RADER, Primary Examiner.

MILTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Examiner. W. SHOOP, Assistant Examiner. 

8. TICKET COLLECTING APPARATUS ADAPTED TO CONNECT AN OUTPUT CIRCUIT TO A SOURCE OF ALTERNATING CURRENT INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A RECEIVER PROVIDED WITH MEANS THROUGH WHICH TICKETS CAN BE PASSED INTO THE RECEIVER, A FIRST DELAY WINDING HAVING A FIRST NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH AND A SECOND OPEN SWITCH ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, A SECOND DIRECT CURRENT RELAY WINDING HAVING A THIRD NORMALLY CLOSED SWITCH AND A FOURTH NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, MEANS COMPRISING A FULL WAVE RECTIFIER FOR CONNECTING SAID SECOND RELAY WINDING AND SAID FIRST NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH TO SAID OUTPUT CIRCUIT, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE PASSAGE OF A TICKET INTO THE RECEIVER FOR ENERGIZING SAID FIRST RELAY WINDING FROM SAID SOURCE TO SAID NORMALLY CLOSED SWITCH, MEANS CONNECTING SAID THIRD NORMALLY CLOSED SWITCH AND SAID SECOND NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH IN A HOLDING CIRCUIT FOR SAID FIRST RELAY WINDING AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID FOURTH SWITCH ACROSS SAID FIRST NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH. 